Abdussamad Ashraf, a young entrepreneur from Bihar, founded his first startup at 15, achieving a 68-crore turnover. Now 21, he leads Linkpg, a tech-driven platform revolutionizing PG accommodations in the hospitality industry.
Abdussamad Ashraf’s journey began in Katihar, Bihar, where he was born on September 16, 2003, into a political family. From a young age, his environment shaped his ambition and drive. As a teenager, he immersed himself in the hospitality industry, starting work at the age of 14, where he learned valuable lessons in managing people, service, and operations. By the time he was 15, he had already built his first startup, achieving an impressive turnover of 68 crores within just two years.
Growing up in a politically active family, Abdussamad was no stranger to navigating complex relationships and societal expectations. A key moment in his early life was his association with a girl named San__. Despite being from a rival family, Abdussamad developed feelings for her, but the situation turned complicated when rumors about them spread, leading to accusations that affected his reputation. This experience, though painful, toughened his resolve and gave him insights into relationships, trust, and how society operates.
After the lockdown in 2021, Abdussamad saw an opportunity in the hospitality sector, especially in the growing demand for student housing. With just 50,000 rupees from his mother, he founded Shabnamstays in Kota, aimed at solving problems faced by students living in PG accommodations. The business faced many hurdles, but Abdussamad’s resilience paid off as Shabnamstays expanded to over 450 beds. However, challenges with a third-party property management app, which blocked his properties for delayed payments, inspired Abdussamad to take matters into his own hands. He decided to rebrand his venture to Linkpg, integrating technology to streamline property management, from bookings and payments to maintenance and student services.
His business style emphasized long-term returns over short-term gains, a philosophy that guided his ventures, including his first startup Oyotea, which he founded with friends in Kota after the lockdown. Inspired by entrepreneurs like Tilak Mehta and Ritesh Agarwal, Abdussamad quickly pivoted when he realized Oyotea’s potential was limited. He shifted his focus to a 10-minute grocery delivery app aimed at helping local shopkeepers during the pandemic. However, it was the hospitality industry that kept pulling him back, and he eventually honed his focus on that.
Over time, Abdussamad dealt with significant challenges, including bankruptcy, where his faith in relationships was shaken by staff prioritizing salary over loyalty. His financial situation improved, but this experience deepened his understanding of human nature. During this time, he also leaned heavily on his family, particularly his younger brother and co-founder, Aurangzeb.
A fitness enthusiast, Abdussamad always balanced his business ventures with a focus on personal health and well-being. His entrepreneurial vision kept evolving, and when the rise of reels and content creation became popular among his peers, he reflected on how environmental influences shape people’s decisions. While he observed others chasing short-term social media success, he chose a different path—one focused on creating real value and sustainable businesses.
At just 21 years old, Abdussamad is now in the process of launching Linkpg as a professional platform offering affordable PG accommodations, with a focus on seamless technology integration. Despite his success, he remains humble, recently posting a message thanking people for birthday wishes and apologizing for not responding to everyone individually.
